Pune: The bullet injury’s nature on the chest of a Lonavla lawyer helped police on Tuesday decode his family’s attempt to pass off his murder over a property dispute as a death due to accidental firing and arrest his 83-year-old grandfather, along with four other relatives.Pune Rural police arrested Motiram Marathe (83) on the charge of shooting dead his grandson, Abhay Manik Marathe (33), on Monday afternoon. Motiram’s daughter Rajashri Pawar (58), son Hiraman Marathe (54), daughter-in-law Kavita Marathe (Hiraman’s wife) and grandson Manoj Marathe (32) [Hiraman’s son] were also taken into custody for allegedly destroying evidence.The accused have been charged under sections 103 (murder), 238 (causing disappearance of evidence of offence, or giving false information to screen offender) and 241 (destruction of document or electronic record to prevent its production as evidence) of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), along with relevant sections of Indian Arms Act.Lonavla City police on Monday afternoon received information from a hospital that Abhay, a lawyer from Bhushi in Lonavla, had succumbed to a bullet injury. His family members told doctors and police that he was cleaning his grandfather’s 12-bore rifle inside their hotel in Bhushi when it accidentally went off. The bullet struck Abhay in the chest, killing him instantly. Lonavla City police registered an accidental death case and began an investigation.Superintendent of police (Pune Rural) Sandeep Singh Gill said Abhay’s body was sent to Sassoon General Hospital in Pune for post-mortem. Gill, additional superintendent of police Shubham Kumar and inspector Pramod Kshirsagar of the local crime branch inspected the body and became suspicious after noticing the bullet wound on the chest.“Self-inflicted or accidental firearm injuries are different from the injury we found on Abhay. In an accidental firing, it is unlikely for a rifle bullet to hit the chest,” Gill said.The SP said a crime branch team immediately went to the hotel, where the alleged accidental firing occurred. The team found a pool of blood on the wall beside the hotel counter. Another pool of blood was found nearby, while blood splatters were visible on the wall about five feet above the ground. “This increased our suspicion that Abhay was shot dead inside the hotel,” Gill said.He said the police team questioned the hotel workers and manager. They revealed that Abhay and his grandfather, Motiram, had a dispute over the sale of one of their properties. Motiram opposed selling it.“They again had a heated argument over the issue around 11.30am on Monday. Abhay allegedly charged at his grandfather during the argument. Motiram then took out his licensed rifle and shot his grandson dead,” Gill said.He said Abhay’s sister, his uncle, the latter’s wife and their son were alerted after the incident. They came to the hotel and moved Abhay’s body into one of the rooms. They removed the CCTV cameras and digital video recorder (DVR) and hid them.“They threatened the hotel employees against revealing anything about the incident to anyone. Thereafter, they informed Abhay’s parents about the incident,” Gill said.The officer said Abhay’s grandfather, Motiram, had two licensed rifles. He obtained the arms licences in 1970 for hunting. Motiram has three sons.“Manik Marathe, the father of the victim, is a former member of Lonavla Municipal Council,” Gill said.
